In ranking of worst U.S. traffic, Austin is up with N.Y. and L.A.

Updated 7:10 am, Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Photo: Don Klumpp, Photographer's Choice/Getty

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The 2012-13 INRIX Traffic Scorecard Annual Report ranks Austin as one of Top 10 Worst Cities for Traffic in America, ranking fourth based on an examination of 2012 driving. See what other cities join Austin in the bottom 10.

The 2012-13 INRIX Traffic Scorecard Annual Report ranks Austin as one of Top 10 Worst Cities for Traffic in America, ranking fourth based on an examination of 2012 driving. See what other cities join Austin in

Of the 15 countries analyzed worldwide, the U.S. is only one of three that has experienced increased congestion in 2013, along with Luxembourg and Ireland.

Other 2012-2013 Scorecard findings include:

-Traffic is back on the rise in 2013, at least in the U.S. "When comparing the INRIX Index during the first three months of the year, data shows that traffic congestion in 2013 is already higher than during the same time period in 2012," the report states. "The INRIX Index for January through March 2013 was 6.7 - 4 percent higher than the same period in 2012."

-The 2013 increase follows another decrease in 2012. "The uptick in traffic congestion in 2013 follows a 22 percent decrease in 2012. The 'stop n go' nature of the results indicate an overall economic climate that has not yet returned to pre-recession levels in many areas, including total jobs and unemployment rates," according to the report.

-Not all congestion in created equal: "In 2012, the worst travel corridors in the U.S. can cost drivers 62 hours a year from sitting idle in gridlock, almost twice the national average (38 hours).

-Traffic as an indicator of economic health: "When examined with employment data from 2012 and 2013, the Scorecard shows how observed shifts in traffic congestion serve as a key indicator of economic health.